Fighting with Dogs She Lives With
 

Hello. I am new here, but have concerns about my yorkie's behavior. Lucy is 3 1/2 years old and I have had her about 11 months. Also in the home: Tink, a very active 14 year old chi-weenie, Luv Bug, a 3 year old chihuahua, and Trouble, a 1 year old chihuahua mix. Tink rules the roost and barks at the other dogs to keep them in line. When I first got Lucy she loved the freedom of being outside in a fenced in area with a kiddie pool and played with the other dogs. Although she was suppose to be my dog, she fell in love with my 16 year old grandson. Lucy loves to be around him and sleeps in his bedroom. About 4 months ago we started to have the problem with her fighting the other dogs. The fighting started with Tink, which did not please Luv Bug and Trouble so they helped Tink. The fighting wasn't very often the first two months so I wasn't really concerned. I basically viewed it as disagreements. Then, in the third month it became a daily problem and it involved Tink, Luv Bug, or Trouble. We would separate them and tell them no fighting. Now it's every time she sees one of the other dogs. There has not been any serious injuries, but there has been blood. I took Lucy to the vet and had a senior lab panel done as it included everything. I wanted to find out if there were any medical issues that was causing these behavior issues. The lab work came back good. Now I don't know what to do to stop this constant fighting. Currently Lucy is kept in another fenced in area so she is separated from the other dogs. I have contacted a trainer in the area, but haven't received a reply back yet. I am so beside myself and have no clue to what I can be doing to help this fighting issue. I would appreciate any suggestions about this issue and what I can do. Thanks in advance.

Poor Lucy, she must feel like an outsider. I would take one of the less aggressive dogs, Love bug or Trouble and put one in with Lucy see how she behaves with just one dog. The 3 original dogs are a pack already and will stick together and defend one another. Reason why try just one dog with Lucy have toys and yourself in that area in case they don't get along, play with the 2 of them, see if you can get them to play with each other. A trainer is a good idea. I had a pack of 3 females,(all now passed) all 3 years apart, they were very sweet and never a growl or nap at each other. I would have been devastated if they had not gotten along, so I know how you must feel. Good luck.

Poor Lucy, she must feel like an outsider. I would take one of the less aggressive dogs, Love bug or Trouble and put one in with Lucy see how she behaves with just one dog. The 3 original dogs are a pack already and will stick together and defend one another. Reason why try just one dog with Lucy have toys and yourself in that area in case they don't get along, play with the 2 of them, see if you can get them to play with each other. A trainer is a good idea. I had a pack of 3 females,(all now passed) all 3 years apart, they were very sweet and never a growl or nap at each other. I would have been devastated if they had not gotten along, so I know how you must feel. Good luck.